Curiosity Killed the Cat

Chapter 14. What Next?

"Please tell me you're joking." Connor asks as we exit the warehouse into the brisk night air. We stand next to my parked car.

"For once I'm with Cameron," agrees Wesley. "Laney," Wesley exhales a long breath. "We barely got out of there untouched. And you're just standing here telling me you told that bartender our names."

"Our full names," points out Connor. "You can calm down Connor, I didn't even mention you to Mandy."

Wesley takes a hand through his tangled hair. It's damp from the cold rain coming down on us. His feet pace back and forth by my car in stress. His face looks pale and sickly like he could throw up any second. I didn't think doing this would make him this stressed.

I'm as nervous as the next person but this mission tonight has put him over the edge. My stomach churns just thinking about the fact that I basically forced Wesely with me. He wouldn't go if I hadn't wanted to go alone. I know he's been hesitant to even investigate our friend's deaths.

"Hey, Wesley." He stops in his tracks looking up at me. "I'm sorry I made you come with me. If this makes you want to stop the investigation. I'll understand." I pause looking down. Wesley laughs before shaking his head at me.

"God! Don't you think I would stop if I could?" Connor and I stare blankly at Wesley. "This is messy. You and I." Wesley stares at me. "I never wanted any of this to happen. But no matter how frustrated or scared I am, we're sticking through this together." Wesley's eyes trace my whole face as he waits for me to respond. I just nod silently. What else can I say?

"So poetic." Connor snaps as if he just listened to a poetry read. "Are we forgetting the part where she got a meeting with one of the world's scariest crime bosses?" Adds Connor as we get into my car. Wesley quickens his step to make sure he can get in the passenger seat besides me.

"You didn't find anything important while you were mingling did you?" I question Connor who sits unbuckled in the backseat. "Only that Big Bear is a woman and that she has a whole ass family." I'm shocked to find out she has an actual family.

Big Bear has always struck me as this ominous person who wears a cloak and is troubled with a secret dark past. And maybe that part is still true but I can't imagine being a leader of an illegal business and having kids at home.

I put the car in drive and speed over the speed limit because this place is giving me the creeps. "When do you reckon Big Bear will contact us?" Wesley peers out the car window into the blackness of the night.

"Who knows? But we need to have a long list of questions to ask for our investigation."

I stop in front of Billie's Diner about fifteen minutes later, dropping off Connor. "Always a pleasure," nods Connor with tired eyes.

Wesley bends in his seat grabbing his skateboard from my back seat. "What are you doing?" I stopped him. "Grabbing my stuff and going home. I need my beauty rest if we're meeting up tomorrow." I roll my eyes before stopping him again.

"Let me drive you home. It's dark." Wesley pauses. "I've already wasted your gas by making you drive me everywhere. It's fine." He opens the door.

"Close my door right now or I swear I'll never rewatch Superfast." Even though Wesley's head is pointed towards the door I can feel his smile grow.

"You're cruel." Wesley slams the door shut and I begin driving.

The next morning I woke up for work. It's sure going to be an awkward day at work since Zachary's name was on the schedule. Since the original plan was to meet up at Wesley's this morning I text him and reschedule for when I get off at one.

"So anything Big Bear related happened this morning?" Connor clocks in next to me.

"It's only been nine hours, let's give it time alright." I go in to start taking people's orders at the cash register. "Can I talk to you about something?" I hate those words. "About what?" I type in an order for an elderly couple.

"About Wesley." I sigh. "What about Wesley?" I focus myself on printing out the couple's receipt. "I just think you should keep your distance around that guy." Spinning on my feet, I look up at Connor.

"Why because you have some enemies to lovers shit going on between the two of you?" I smirk to myself.

"I think you and Wesley fit that category better than he and I do." My face grows stern.

"I don't know what you mean?"

"Yeah, you do. I can tell the way you look at him. Even before that night." My eyes trail away from Connor's.

"He doesn't feel that way about you. Wesley isn't a good guy and you're only going to get hurt." Connor's eyes soften on me. "I know you're only saying this because you're interested in me."

"Maybe but deep down you know it's the truth. I would never do anything to hurt you." I walk back and hand one of our chefs the elderly couple's order. "No you wouldn't do anything to hurt me, just spread a nasty rumor about me to the school." Connor stands still. 

"How did you-" 

"Yeah my friends hate me because of you so thanks for that. I'd really appreciate you not saying anything more." I leave Connor in his spot where he stands as still as a statue.

"Hey Mrs. Park, how are you feeling?" I ask through my phone. "Not the best this morning but chemo has been tough!" I pause feeling sick. Nadine's dead and now they'd have enough money to pay for her mother's chemo. "Are you still there, honey?" Mrs. Park says again. "Yeah," I let out.

"Well, I'm glad you called me actually. Me and Kelvin's family have actually really bonded together in the last month and we've thought about doing a get together. I wanted to invite you and your family over for a dinner party. If you're not comfortable with it I completely understand." I let this simmer in for a second. "Yes, thank you for the invitation. I'll be there."

"Me and the Davenports' have been trying to reach out to that boy Wesley and his mom but haven't had any luck." Mrs. Park sounds a bit down. This means a lot to her. I can tell by the unsteadiness in her throat.

"I'm actually on my way to his house right now so I can ask him."

"Okay great! Great," exclaims Mrs. Park. "I'll send the Davenport's address to you. See you then, sweetheart." My heart drops. We're going to the place where Nadine and Kelvin were found.

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Chapter posted: 7/13/2022

Hey guys! So all of the families are meeting up again since that night. How do you think it's going to go?